Heating for survival with breathing problems Help?

[laureniam]

I have COPD/asthma and need help figuring out an alternative survival heat source for our home that would work with my breathing probs. I have even had issues with propane in the past. Anybody out there with similar issues that have found decent solutions? Suggestions or recommendations? I am looking into solar energy, but it is WAY expensive, and our state has no current rebate/grant programs. Help PLEASE!

NOTE: I need something for if we LOS power for an extended period of time...I don't think my first thread was clear enough...I want to thank those of you mentioning the infrared heaters (I have one and LOVE it)...problem is if we lose power. THank you all!

Edited April 10, 2011 by laureniam
clarification

[Gatekeeper]

Hi friend! I can not help you; I hope someone can answer your question. Welcome!

[NeuroTypical]

I'm currently in the process of evaluating and getting a wood burning stove. The research I'm doing is leading me to believe such might be an option for you. There are all sorts of horror stories about chimneys blowing the wrong way and smoking up a room and whatnot. But from what I'm reading, a properly installed fireplace/stove, should never do that. No matter which way the wind is blowing. As long as you use the right fuel, be it wood/coal/propane/natural gas, and as long as it is properly installed, it pulls air in, combusts efficiently, and sends the rest up the chimney.

There are also things like geothermal heat pumps you might want to look into. I don't know much about them, or if they can work off the grid reasonably well, but it's something to consider.

Happy warming!

[Madriglace]

Take a look at the LifeSmart heaters ... I have used one similar for 2 winters and my electric bill has gone down and it keeps the house real toasty ... the only time I have had to fire up the pellet stove is if the weather goes down in the teens or below ... then the heater couldn't keep up ... however I live in an upstairs apartment in a log building with a gambrel (barn style) roof so alot of space up in the rafters to heat.

[Guest SisterofJared]

I know two people with EdenPure infra-red heaters, they say they keep the house really warm and are very inexpensive to use. It costs around $300 to buy one. I'm going to get one for me before this next winter. They are kind of like a space heater, but they use infrared heat and you can put things on them and they don't get hot. A cat can lay on the heater and not be burned. Their ad says they cost 8 cents a day to run. My daughter has a very large house and she uses two of them, says it keeps every room in her house warm, which her wood stove never did.

[RipplecutBuddha]

I would second the wood stove option. As a kid growing up in Wyoming, we lost power at least once a year. A fireplace or wood stove saved the day. It works best if you can install one in the basement, then have small fans pushing the heat from the chimney surround out to the rest of the house.

A good friend of mine had his house set up this way, and it's all he used in the winter. For a 4 bed 2 bath house, full basement, they went through about 2 1/2 cord of wood a year, most of it in the winter, but occasionally during the rest of the year.

the supply of wood came from the wast piles built up by the US Forest service after they had cleared the deadfall from the mountains. A permit is very affordable, and generally allows you to take all the wood you can haul off. We would take a couple weekends to cut up the logs, then split into firewood.

As a Stake, we had a month long wood project each fall where the stake would buy the permits and each ward would assemble crews to gather the lumber, then set up processing groups to cut/split the wood. The finished product was then delivered free to any members in need of firewood. The leftovers were then given to anyone else that was known to need the wood for heating.

Sorry to ramble, but it's a great idea, and does a great amount of good for those in need.

Oh, and a great idea for firestarters is cardboard egg cartons. Fill each pocket in the carton with dryer lint, then seal the top with a thin layer of parafin wax. To use, break off one pocket, place it among the kindling, then light it. Works great every time.

Edited April 10, 2011 by RipplecutBuddha

[NeuroTypical]

I have used the egg cartons/dryer lint/ wax deal, and was so happy with it I swore I'd never use anything else. Then someone pointed out that shredded paper is better than dryer lint, on account of all the rayon and nylon and dyes and other manmade stuff that ends up in dryer lint. Small improvement on an excellent solution.

[Blackmarch]

I have COPD/asthma and need help figuring out an alternative survival heat source for our home that would work with my breathing probs. I have even had issues with propane in the past. Anybody out there with similar issues that have found decent solutions? Suggestions or recommendations? I am looking into solar energy, but it is WAY expensive, and our state has no current rebate/grant programs. Help PLEASE!

NOTE: I need something for if we LOS power for an extended period of time...I don't think my first thread was clear enough...I want to thank those of you mentioning the infrared heaters (I have one and LOVE it)...problem is if we lose power. THank you all!

Stock up on blankets and thick clothes. maybe invest in a gas powered generator? also depending where you live, look into solar power/solar heating (solar heating is different from solar elctricity.. depending on what you want to heat it can be a lot more cheap than going the solar electricity route).

also if you go to a sports/hunting store look for insta heat packs they are great for warming hands and feet.

How affected are you if something is burning in a ventilated area? (IE such as outdoors or a fireplace)

Edited April 13, 2011 by Blackmarch

[laureniam]

Thank you for your feedback and ideas...I think we have come up with a several prong approach and are in the process of getting it together. In response to your question about a ventilated area, woodsmoke of any kind is a problem for me...if a window is open in the house and someone is burning from a fireplace elsewhere outside I start having breathing problems in the house...generators are ok but it is what kind of fuel to store...our generator would only go a few hours at a time before needing fuel, and we are looking at really long term (weeks, months). We are getting some solar panels and propane tank and propane stove that vents to the outside as well. I am going to talk to my doctor about an oxygen tank for backup for me, even though I don't need one yet now. Thanks EVERYONE for your suggestions...our preparation keeps moving forward! :-)

[Blackmarch]

Thank you for your feedback and ideas...I think we have come up with a several prong approach and are in the process of getting it together. In response to your question about a ventilated area, woodsmoke of any kind is a problem for me...if a window is open in the house and someone is burning from a fireplace elsewhere outside I start having breathing problems in the house...generators are ok but it is what kind of fuel to store...our generator would only go a few hours at a time before needing fuel, and we are looking at really long term (weeks, months). We are getting some solar panels and propane tank and propane stove that vents to the outside as well. I am going to talk to my doctor about an oxygen tank for backup for me, even though I don't need one yet now. Thanks EVERYONE for your suggestions...our preparation keeps moving forward! :-)

Also,

I've had good meals prepared in solar cookers, which you can make yourself or you can buy professional made ones that go anywhere between $100-$300.

Edited April 13, 2011 by Blackmarch

[marshac]

Heating is a concern for us too- we have gas heat, so when the power goes out, so too does the electric blower for the furnace. Since we rent, a generator along with the associated electrical work isn't an option. Last winter I found out that a 1200W space heater actually did an OK job at keeping the house at an acceptable temp (which is surprising considering the place is ~1600ft^2)... so I recently bought a 1500W inverter for my Prius. Now if the power goes out, i'll just run a heater (and maybe even some lights) off the inverter.

From what I've read, fuel usage under a full load with this setup is about 0.18gal/hour... which is pretty good!